Assassination, Part One

Where is that shipment from the East?

Soren turned and asked the person next to him, and immediately someone led him to the back.

Soon, a pile of carefully arranged goods appeared ahead; it was obvious without even looking that they contained Porcelain, a very valuable commodity. On the mainland, exquisite Porcelain was sometimes more popular with nobles than silverware. Furthermore, because Porcelain was easily broken and prone to damage during transport, finely crafted Porcelain always commanded high prices. Although there was some ceramic craftsmanship on the mainland, only Porcelain from the East was considered the best, and only genuine Eastern Porcelain could fetch such high prices!

This is similar to how wine connoisseurs appreciate wines from their place of origin.

"How did so many parts break?!"

Soren glanced at them briefly and frowned, saying in a deep voice, "Almost everything inside these boxes is broken."

Upon hearing Soren's words, the pirate captain behind him immediately broke out in a cold sweat. He forced a smile and said, "The idiots below were careless; they tripped while being transported. I've already hung them up and given them twenty lashes. If you're not satisfied, I'll punish them properly later."

"Never mind," Soren waved his hand and said slowly, "Since the punishment has already been given, let it go."

He glanced at the Porcelain before him, then turned to the chests beside him containing Spice, tea, and Silk. Goods from the East were quite valuable, and his trip wasn't just about selling them; he also wanted to bring Goria a gift. She had helped Soren and Vivian a great deal in the past, and he hadn't been able to express his gratitude before. But now that Soren was one of the Pirate King of the South Coast, how could he possibly go empty-handed to invite her overseas?

Reciprocity is key!

Essentially, Soren still retains many of his past traditions. While Goria probably won't need the other gifts, she will definitely find the Spice, tea, and Silk from the East useful. Wizard generally enjoy Spice and tea; many of these have calming and concentration-enhancing effects, which can aid Wizard's learning and understanding of Spell. As for Silk, it goes without saying that in an era where overall civilization is approaching the Middle Ages, Silk is something most women cannot resist.

"Take all of these with you and transport them all out."

Soren glanced at them and picked out the best ones. He then ordered his men to carry them out.

This shipment was of extremely high quality. After opening two boxes and examining them, Soren discovered a mark resembling Mermaid in a corner. Of course, it wasn't Mermaid; it actually looked more like an Eastern Jiaoren, a creature called a ' Mermaid ' in the East, completely different from the ' Merfolk ' of the West. This mark represented a powerful force in the Eastern World Eastern World, controlling nearly 60% of its Trade. Whether goods were transported overland across the desert or by Ocean Route, most of them had to be sourced from cities under their control.

This organization is quite bizarre!

Soren had some contact with them back then, and there were many skilled fighters among them.

Furthermore, these Eastern peoples are not afraid of or hostile towards the Drow. They are also among the few humans who directly Trade with the underground drow, even if such Trade is relatively secretive and infrequent.

Soren quickly chose his gift.

He didn't linger on Serpent Island for long. After preparing a gift for Goria, Soren led his men towards Port Tyler. Now that he was back, he felt he should at least see the Naga Priestess, otherwise she might be displeased. That's how social interactions work. If he didn't come to see her, she might think Soren arrogant. After all, she was the high Priest of the South Coast region, and the Naga Priestess wielded considerable influence in Port Tyler and other cities near the mainland.

Soren still needs the strength of the Church of the Sea!

The journey to Port Tyler Port Tyler did not take long; Soren arrived with his men in the afternoon.

The approach of the Warship didn't alarm many people, but some Chamber of Commerce leaders learned of Soren's return. Some of them were already preparing to pay their respects, just as Soren was going to see the Naga Priestess. As soon as Soren arrived at the port of Port Tyler, he ordered others to deliver a gift of his to the Temple of the Sea. He then planned to stay there for the night before setting off for Shipwreck Bay.

You should still give gifts when the time is right.

Even though Soren initially forced the Naga Priestess to concede and submit by leveraging his overwhelming victory, the matter is now in the past, and there's an opportunity to ease tensions. It's worth trying to cultivate some goodwill. If Soren wants to establish a foothold on the South Coast, he absolutely must cling to the Goddess of the Sea Goddess of the Sea. With her support, even the most daunting problems will be mitigated by the Church of the Sea. Soren's willingness to serve the Goddess of the Sea is simply a matter of seeking refuge under her powerful patron.

certainly.

Just thinking about clinging to powerful figures isn't enough; you need a solid foundation. Soren's ultimate goal is to become a towering tree himself.

The pirate henchmen who delivered the gifts had barely left when the heads of the Tyrell Port Merchant Guild arrived, each bringing gifts. These guys had plenty of informants; pirates are known for their loose tongues, so it wasn't surprising they knew of Sauron's return. Sauron was perfectly aware of their arrival, because what they wanted was nothing more than black market smuggling and new sea routes to the overseas islands.

These things are impossible for them to have!

Soren is no longer attacking merchant ships as often, yet he can still support such a large crew because he has firmly grasped the smuggling Trade. The profits from it are astonishing. Soren currently commands over two thousand nominal pirate henchmen and Chamber of Commerce sailors, whose every need comes from the gold and silver they plunder. Collecting protection money at sea alone is insufficient to support this entire force. As for the other overseas voyage, Soren is even less likely to share it with them; this will be a path to immense wealth in the future.

A meaningless exchange of pleasantries.

Soren greeted everyone with a smile, accepting all the gifts offered. However, he offered no response to inquiries about overseas trade routes or attempts to explore Trade. This attitude left many feeling helpless, and many could only leave their gifts behind and depart disappointed.

Fifteen minutes passed just like that.

Just as Soren finished dealing with the managers and leaders sent by the Chamber of Commerce, a strange figure suddenly appeared behind him. Then a cold light appeared, and a strange short knife pierced through his back, hitting Soren's vital heart!

A spurt of blood gushed out.

Soren's figure stiffened for a moment, then a look of pain appeared on his face.

The dagger pierced his heart!!!

...(To be continued~^~)